Trident as a Religious Symbol

Introduction
A trident also called a Trishula, leister or gig, is a three-pronged spear. It is used for
spear fishing and was also a military weapon. Tridents are featured widely in mythical,
historical and modern culture. As a weapon, the trident was prized for its long reach
and ability to trap other long-weapons between prongs to disarm their wielder. In
Ancient Rome, in a parody of fishing, tridents were famously used by a type of
gladiator.
Trident in the Greek/Roman Mythology
The trident symbol, from the fishing origins is most commonly associated with
Poseidon, the god of the oceans and sea in Greek mythology. Neptune in the Roman
Mythology or Poseidon in the Greek mythology was the second most powerful god
who ruled the seas. When he was in a good mood, Poseidon created new lands in the
water and a calm sea. In contrast, when he was in a bad mood, Poseidon would strike
the ground with a trident and cause unruly springs and earthquakes, ship wrecks, and
drowning. By hitting the earth with his trident, Poseidon created the horse and some
water sources in Greece.
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Left: Poseidon and Right: Shiva
Trishula in the Hindu Mythology
The trident also symbolizes major gods among various occult groups. In India, it is
linked to the Hindu "trident-bearer" Shiva, spouse of the skull-bearing goddess Kali.
Shiva is recognized as the most powerful symbolic God in India. Due to His symbolic
activity of enforcement and recreation, the words destroyer and destruction are often
wrongly associated with Lord Shiva.
The trident is called Trishula in Hindi. Trishula in Sanskrit means three spear. It is
wielded by the Hindu God Shiva and is said to have been used to sever the original
head of Ganesha. Durga also holds Trishula, as one of her many weapons. There are
many other gods and deities, who hold the weapon Trishula. The three points have
various meanings and significance, and, common to Hindu religion, has many stories
behind them. When looked upon as a weapon of Shiva, the Trishula is said to destroy
the three worlds: the physical world, the world of the ancestors (representing culture
drawn from the past) and the world of the mind (representing the processes of
sensing and acting). The three worlds are supposed to be destroyed by Shiva into a
single non-dual plane of existence that is bliss alone.
In the human body, the Trishula also represents the place where the three main nadis,
or energy channels that include Ida, Pingala and Shushmana. Shushmana, the
central one, continues upward to the 7th chakra, or energy center, while the other
two ends at the brow, there the 6th chakra is located. The Trishula's central point
represents Shushmana, and that is why it is longer than the other two, representing
Ida and Pingala.
Trident in Taoism:
In religious Taoism, the trident represents the Taoist Trinity, the Three Pure Ones. In
Taoist rituals, a trident bell is used to invite the presence of deities and summon
spirits, as the trident signifies the highest authority of Heaven.
Source:
http://www.researchomatic.com/Trident-More-Than-A-Spear-With-Three-Prongs-
33951.html
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